Driver Convicted of Assaulting Police Chief Fox To Be Sentenced Friday

Russell Stewart, the Ogdensburg man found guilty in a 2008 assault against Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox, is scheduled to be sentenced in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack tomorrow.

Stewart was found guilty in February of one count of attempting to disarm a firearm from a law enforcement officer, and guilty of aggravated assault upon a police officer.

During the trial Fox testified that he first encountered Stewart on September 11, 2008 after what appeared to be a motor vehicle accident on Franklin Avenue near Boulder Run. Fox testified that he repeatedly asked Stewart for identification, but was rebuffed.  Describing Stewart as “defiant, aggressive and uncooperative,” Fox said Stewart grabbed a one-gallon bottle of bleach from the car and threw it down on the ground splashing him which led to the two men scuffling. Within moments Fox testified Stewart was pulling at his firearm.

Stewart was found not guilty of assault charges against the drivers and passengers in vehicles that he struck.

Chief Fox is expected to be in court tomorrow to read a victim impact statement prior to sentencing.